Manchester woman accused of assaulting her daughters

MANCHESTER — A mother accused of hitting her daughters was arraigned Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division on two misdemeanor simple assault charges. Trial was set for Jan. 28.

Colleen Gagne, 58, of 855 Coral Ave., is accused of punching her 26-year-old daughter in the face several times and of swinging her arms at her 24-year-old daughter, striking her, when the younger woman sought to intervene.

Court documents show the younger daughter told police she was in the basement when she heard yelling upstairs shortly before midnight Thursday and went upstairs to find her sister, who police said is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and autism, sitting on a living room couch. She said her mother was on top of her sister, using both hands to punch her sister numerous times in the face.

The 24-year-old told police she called 911 and then sought to get her mother off her sister. At that point, her mother then began swinging both arms at her.

The court documents show a police officer noted Gagne was unsteady on her feet, slurring her speech as she spoke, which the officer said was due to intoxication. Gagne was arrested on two counts of domestic simple assault.

Bail was set at $1,000 cash/surety at Gagne's arraignment Friday morning, with conditions that include no contact with her daughters.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Stephen Reardon also requested that Gagne be required to complete the booking process at the Manchester Police Department before her release.

Threatened with brass knuckles

Alexandra Fereira, 20, of 52 Dubuque St., could enter no plea Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to a felony charge of criminal threatening that accuses her of confronting another woman, while wearing brass knuckles, and telling the woman: "I'm gonna … you up." That threatening allegedly occurred at about 9:05 a.m. Dec. 5, at 175 Chestnut St.

Fereira pleaded innocent to a misdemeanor charge of carrying a dangerous weapon (brass knuckles) and a violation of operating after suspension, both charges lodged moments after the threatening incident, during a stop at Lowell and Beech streets.

She also pleaded innocent to a second violation of operating after suspension, which allegedly occurred on Bridge Street, shortly before 4 a.m. on Dec. 17.

A probable cause hearing on the felony and a status hearing on the remaining charges was set for Jan. 28.

Bail was continued at $1,000 personal recognizance, with conditions that include no contact with the alleged victim and not going to 175 Chestnut St. or to a specific Candia address,

Caught by a firearms record check

A city man who allegedly lied about having a felony conviction when he applied for a pistol permit pleaded no contest Friday in Circuit Court-Manchester District Division to a misdemeanor of unsworn falsification.

Bi To, 29, of 265 Dunbarton Road, had checked the box on the permit that says the applicant has never been convicted of a felony, even though he was convicted of second degree assault in 2006. The false swearing was discovered when police did a records check in connection with the application.

To was fined $1,000, with $800 suspended for two years of good behavior, and ordered to pay $248, which includes the penalty assessment.